Books read in 2024: No. 47 -- Deadwood

by Pete Dexter

Started: Nov. 6

Finished: Nov. 19

Notes: To be clear, no, this novel has nothing to do with the television show of the same name, though obviously it is based upon the same time period, region, and probably some of the events and real-life characters. That being said, I know that history fairly well, so I'm looking forward to this author's take on it.

Mini review: An interesting novel, almost literary but not quite. There's not a lot of action here, in case you might be expecting some Old West shoot-em-outs, but there is some little violence from time to time, though much of it happens "off screen." Most of the notable historical figures of the time and place are present, as well as some minor figures. The main character is Charlie Utter, and though the murder of Bill Hickock is a main part of this tale, it's not the culmination but almost a beginning. The last half of this book is mostly Charlie's experiences with other people and how the death of Hickock affected them, and how the man's death affected the town of Deadwood. However, Hickock's murder isn't the only event that brings about conflict and story. Ultimately, I got the impression this novel was supposed to be somewhat humorous, but the truth is, I find it mostly sad, many of the characters seeming to have sad or sometimes even awful fates. I wouldn't call this a great novel, but it's not a bad one, and it's definitely an interesting one, probably more for writers than for historical buffs of the Old West.

Beer of the Week: Blue Moon Light Citrus Wheat

Beer score: 7.2

Company: Blue Moon Brewing
ABV: 4.0
IBU: 10

One of the best light beers I've had the pleasure to taste.

Pours a slightly cloudy, pale yellow color with a foamy head. Gives off scents of citrus and what.

Perhaps a little carbonation here, but far less than most light beers.

The texture in your mouth is smooth and not harsh, like some light beers, but also perhaps a little thin. The flavor is mostly a light orange with a touch of wheat, but there's not a lot of sweetness here, nor is there an abundance of bitterness.

Those seeking a solid drinking experience might not appreciate this beer, but for those who are counting calories, I'm telling you this is one of the best light beers on the market. It really does come off as a lighter version of the Blue Moon Belgian White, and that's not a bad thing.

Beer of the Week: Keystone Premium

Beer score: 2.0

Company: Coors
ABV: 4.4
IBU: NA

There are those who will say Keystone beer and Keystone Premium beer are the exact same beer. Maybe they are, but I know over the decades I've seen both labels, and I've tried both, and at least to my taste buds they are slightly different from one another. Though I suppose it's also possible the Keystone people have changed their recipe from time to time. So, there might be some confusion. Are Keystone and Keystone Premium the same beer? I don't know for sure. But I know I tasted a drink out of a can labeled "Keystone Premium" this past week, and here are my thoughts.

First off, the word "premium" in beer language must mean "chape and tasteless" because so many mediocre and bad brews have that word on their label. This beer is no different.

It's wet and easy on the throat, I'll give it that, and it's vaguely reminiscent of Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Mostly it tastes like the aluminum can it comes out of, with vague hints of grain and maybe corn. The smell is about the same.

There are plenty of better beers out there.

Books read in 2024: No. 46 -- Son of A Wanted Man

by Louis L'Amour

Started: Oct. 27

Finished: Nov. 6

Notes: I was traveling recently, and while I brought a book with me for reading, I didn't plan on finishing that book so soon. So, on the road without a read, I had to drop into the Back Again Bookshop in Myrtle Beach, SC, my favorite little used book store in that region. And since I was in the mood to read westerns and had just finished one L'Amour novel, I thought I'd snag another one. This one is about a young man who has been groomed by a powerful crime boss to take over the business, but the young man has to decide whether he wants to become a criminal in the Old West or to become a law-abiding citizen. Guess I'll find out.

Mini review: I didn't enjoy this one as much as the last L'Amour novel I read. The plot was good, about a young man raised to be an outlaw though he didn't really want to be one, and the characters were interesting enough. But the story was a bit slow, in my opinion, and the action lacking at least until the end, and even then some of the action was off screen, not something I prefer.

Beer of the Week Blast from the Past: Wychwood Brewery Old Devil Beer

Beer score: 7.3

It having just been Halloween, I thought I'd hunt up a brew from the Wychwood Brewery folks of Oxfordshire. Unfortunately, I couldn't find any where I live, so I pulled out some notes from one of the Wychwood beers that's no longer with us.

This one had an amber ale quality with a touch of sweetness. Not an overly strong beer, so it could be enjoyed in large quantities. Had a bit of lemon and tea in the smell and taste, but not enough to destroy the beer flavor. Somewhat thin in the texture, but there are worse things.

Had an interesting label of a devil in a cemetery using a pitchfork to stab and angel.

Books read in 2024: No. 45 -- Showdown at Yellow Butte

by Louis L'Amour

Started: Oct. 23

Finished: Oct. 26

Notes: Having just finished a non-fiction book about Spaghetti Westerns, I find myself in the mood for some Western fiction. Thus I turn to the master, Louis L'Amour. Actually, though I've read a half dozen or so of his Westerns and a handful of this other fiction, I've never been all that big a fan of L'Amours, though I do consider his autobiographical Education of A Wandering Man to be among my favorite books. In fairness to L'Amour, I've never been much of a fan of Western fiction, though I do love the movie genre. Something about Western fiction often feels fake to me, full of a machismo and bravado that just doesn't ring true. But that's just me. Still, every so often I give L'Amour another chance to win me over.

Mini review: A former army officer who has become a mercenary is hired by a company to drive some squatters off land in New Mexico, but the mercenary begins to wonder if he is on the wrong side. There's plenty of action here and not a lot of depth, so that made this novel a fun and easy read, making me somewhat re-evaluate my earlier thoughts on L'Amour's fiction. Also, this book definitely made me think of Gunsmoke and other older Western TV shows from the '50s and '60s. I only had two problems with this book: 1.) There were too many characters to keep track of, in my opinion, and 2.) There were potential actions scenes which were not portrayed but told to the reader "off screen," though this might have been because of limitations the original publisher set for this book and might not be the author's fault. Either way, this was still a pretty good read, and Western fans could do worse.

Beer of the Week: Czechvar Original

Beer score: 8.0

Company: Czechvar
ABV: 5.0
IBU: 22

Sometimes sold under the name "Budvar" this is one of three beers in the world that at one place or another had had the name of "Budweiser." Yes, for those of you who might not know, the beer in the U.S. known as Budweiser is not the only, for the original, brew with that name. In fact, the name was taken from two other beers in Europe. This particular beer is sold under the name "Czechvar" in North America for legal purposes, but uses different names in the rest of the world.

And this particular beer is what premium American beers only dream they could be.

Very refreshing and light looking, pours with a golden sheen with a big, white head while giving off scents of grains and maybe a little butter.

Goes down silky smooth with more of those grains in the taste, along with hints of citrus and perhaps caramel.

If you see it, purchase it. It's worth having.